Air-conditioning device



Oct. 28, 1930- B. OFFEN AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1929 73 erao, I 6/"? O @774 W M4 4 M Oct. 28, 1930. .7 B. OF FEN 1,779,679

AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE Filed Feb. 1. 1,929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 7 fw Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES BERNARD OI'FEN, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LIB-CONDITIONING DEVICE Application filed February 1, 1929. Serial No. 888,785.

7 This invention relates .to improvements in air conditioning devices, and more partlcularly to a portable humidifying apparatus designed for home and ofiice use.

The object of the invention is to proivde a simple and compact device having a high moisture-deliveringcapacity relatlve to its size and power consumption.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eflicient air-impelling and wateratomizing unit capable 'of bringing the two fluids into intimatecontact under conditions best suited for the maintenance of uniform and ade uate moisture conditions.

A pre erred embodiment of myinvention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device, with a portion of the cover broken away.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical and longitudinal section through the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view in verical section taken'on line 3--3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a. detail view in cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Fi re 5 is a view similar to showing the atomizing controller in open position, and Figure 6 is a similar view, showing the controller in closed position. 1 I

In general, the device consists of a cubical casing or receptacle 1, the lower portion of which forms a tank to which water is supplied and maintained at a redetermined level. The receptable is provided with feet 1 at the lower corners, and over the top is a remova'ble cover 2 in which are air inlet and outlet openings 2 and 2" consisting of perforated areasin the walls of the cover or 40 openings covered with the usual grille work of heavy wire mesh. As shown, the inlet opening 3 is located in the side walls of the cover, extendin around three sides adjacent one end thereo whereas the outlet opening 4 is located in the top wall of the cover ad- 'acent the opposite end, these two openingsv ing of substantially the s me area, and po-' sitioned on o posite sides of a vertical baflle wall 5 de nding from the cover to the water level an dividmg the receptacle into two Figure a,

substantially equal spaces or compartments. The receptacle and cover are of a metal construction, the former being reinforced by metal straps or braces'3, 3, extending longitudinally within the same. Handles 4, 4 at each end of the receptacle serve for lifting the device. I p In the compartment adjacent the inlet opening 3 is located the air and water-impelling unit which will now be described in de tail: Supported near the top edge of the receptacle 1,,but extending upwardly into-the space enclosed by the cover 2, is a small electric motor 6 of the usual and standard type 7 used in small electric-driven appliances. as

Supporting brackets 7, 7 are, fixed to opposite side walls of the receptacle, and. are con nected at their ends with lugs 7" on opposite sides of the motor casing. The motor is mounted in a vertical position, that is, its armature shaft 6 rotateseabout a vertical axis. Immediately below the motor, and directly connected therewith, is a fan 8 having radial propeller blades so arranged as to impell the air downwardly as it is drawn through the inlet openin 2 just above and on three sides thereof. elow the fan is a tube 9 extending vertically downward and terminating above the bottom of the receptacle, but below the normal Water level of-the so water therein. The fan 8 and tube 9 are both connected directly with the motor, being secured in'any desirable manner tothe lower end of the armature shaft. 'As shown in Figure 3, the tube is closed at its upper end by a bushing 10 which has threaded connection with the end of the armature shaft, and the fan is fitted into the end of the tube and held by pin 11. The tube 9 is the water elevating element of the unit and coacts with an atomiz ing element carried thereby, to atomize the water and direct the particles transversely of and into the path of the air being delivered downwardly by the fan. I

The tube 911115 at its lower end suitable impeller blades 12,,12, designed to force the water downwardl therein at a predetermined volume an ressure as the tube is rotated at motor spee ,say seventeen hundred (1700). R. P. M. While various types of km pellers may be used, the form shown is a simple and effective construction. These blades are located internally of the tube and arranged diametrically opposite each other, Each blade is formed by cutting the tube back from its lower edge along parallel lines, one of which is slightly longer than the other, and then bending the portion incloscd between the lines inwardly toward each other and at right angles to the axis of the tube (Figures 3 and 4), with the necessary obliquity to impel the water upwardly in the tube as it is rotating.

At the upper end'of the tube are drilled two outlet ports 13,13 substantially opposite each other, although preferably oifset from a diametric line so that advantage may be taken of the resistance of the water issuing from these ports to assist in a measure the driving force of the motor. Surrounding the tube 9, just above the ports 13, is a bell-shaped apron l4 flaring outwardly and downwardly with its lower edge terminating slightly be'low the level of said ports. The edge of the apron is preferably serrated, that is, divided into a series of tooth-like projections and depressions. This atomizing member has a hublike central portion which fits onto the tube and is secured in any suitable manner. Also mounted in the tube, just below the ports 13, is a collar 15 having a radial flange, its purpose being to intercept the water which would otherwise flow or trickle down the tube and throw it outwardly against the atomizing a ron 14. This arrangement produces in e ect two stages of atomization, thus insuring more efiicient and complete intermingling of the air and water.

The operation of the atomizing unit as thus far described will now be explained. As the motor drives the fan and rotates the tube at a high speed, the water is lifted in the tube by the impeller action of the blades 12, 12, and discharged from the ports 13, 13

against the inner surface of the apron. In

this manner the water is distributed around the surface of the apron, and by reason of its shape seeks the lower edge and is there broken up b ,the serrations and finally thrown outwar and in a downwardly direction by centrifugal force as a spray or mist into the stream of air being circulated downwardly by the fan 8. The water thus expelled in finely divided form is picked up and vaporized and carried toward the outlet opening 2 passing through a series of louvers 16, in the lower portion of the baflie plate 5, and servin to prevent large particles of water from eing carried along with the air discharged from the device. k

It is desirable that means be employed for controllin the rate or volume of water which is atomize in orderto meet tem erature or seasonal variations of the air eing conditioned. A practical atomizer controller comprises parts as follows: Concentric with and surrounding the tube 9 adjacent the apron 14 is a non-rotative ring 17 capable of being shifted axially through a limited distance with relation to said apron. The upper edge of the ring is oblique to the vertical axis adjacent side walls of the receptacle (Figure 5). The outer end of the supporting arm 19 has an upturned portion bearing against the side wall of the receptacle, and in line with a vertical slot 20 therein. A threaded stem 21 is mounted at the end of the arm 19 which passes through the slot and carries a knurled thumb nut 22, whereby the supporting arm can be raised or lowered in the adjustment of the ring 17. The slot 21 is preferably of a length to limit the adjustment to the extreme upper and lower positions, and by suitable indications along one edge of the slot, the ring can be set at the several intermediate positions.

The action of the controlling ring 17 is as follows: As clearly shown, the, ring has an appreciable width or axial dimension, although'variable because of the obliquity of the top edge. Thus if the ring is shifted within the range of the atomizer, it will intercept more or less of the water discharged therefrom before it reaches the air stream, I

and thus prevent it from being vaporized. For instance, in its fullyraised or-closed position, the ring completely surrounds the edge ortion of the atomizing apron 14 (Figure 6 and hence very little of the atomized water can escape, although some of it will necessarily find its way into the air stream inasmuch as the atomization produces a fine spray or mist. On lowering the ring slightly, the lower or depressed portion of the upper edge of the ring will permit a small amount of the atomized water to be thrown into'the air stream, corresponding to the sector of the atomizer apron from which unobstructed Water can be delivered. This sector or are is increased as the ring is lowered still further, until in its lower or open position the discharge from the atomizer is whol-i ly unobstructed and therefore at a maximum. Manifestly the atomized water which is in; tercepted by-the ring is, collected in the trough 17 about its lower edge and drains back into the bottom of the receptacle through the tubes 18. Thus by adjusting the position of the ring 17, it is possible to regulate the amount of water delivered for vapor ization and consequently the moisture content of the air expelled into-the room.

The water is preferably supplied to the receptacle through a small delivery pipe 22 leading from a suitable source of water supply, andenteringthe tank through a valve 23 controlled by a float 23. In this way the water is maintained at a predetermined depth. In case the water cannot be piped to the device, an auxiliary reservoir or supply tank may be used, either mounted within the receptacle or adjacent thereto, and the flow into the receptacle proper controlled by a float valve, as above described.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet openings and adapted to have a predetermined depth of water at the bottom thereof, a motordriven fan for circulating air through said casing, a vertical tube driven by said motor and depending into the water in said receptacle, said tube having means for elevating the Water therein during its rotation, and discharge ports adjacent its upper end, an atomizing member carried by said tube adjacent said ports and adapted to discharge I the atomized water radially from said tube,

and a ring surrounding said atomizing member and adjustable to intercept varying amounts of the atomized Water discharged from said tube.

2. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet openings and adapted to have a predetermined depth of water, at the bottom thereof, a motordriven fan for circulating air through said casin ,a vertical tube driven by said motor and epending into the water in said receptacle, said tube having means for elevating the water therein during its rotation, and discharge ports adjacent its upper end, an atomizing member carried by said tube adjacent sald ports, and adapted to discharge the atomized water radially from said tube, anda ring surrounding said atomizing member and having its upper edge oblique to the vertical axis of said tube, and means for supporting said tube for axial adjustment relative to said atomizing member.

3-. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet openings and adapted to have a predetermined depth of water at the bottom thereof, a motordriven fan for circulating air through said casing, a vertical tube driven by said'motor and depending into the water in said recep tacle, said tube having means for elevating the water therein during itsrotation, and discharge ports adjacent its upper end, an atomizing member carried by said tube adjacent said ports, and adapted to discharge the atomized water radially from said tube, and

a ring surrounding said atomizing member and having a trough at its lower edge, and,

drain tubes depending from said trough, and means for supporting said ring for vertical adjustment relative to said atomizing member.

4. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet openings and adapted to have a predetermined depth of Water at the bottomthereof, a motor-driven fan for circulating air through said casing, a vertical tube driven by said motor and depending into the Water in said receptacle, said tube having means for elevating the water therein during its rotation and discharging the same in atomized form adjacent its up per end, and an axially shiftable ring surrounding said tube adjacent the zone of discharge, and adapted to intercept varying volumes of the atomized water and return the same to the bottom of the receptacle.

5. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet open 'ings and adapted to have a predetermined depth of water at the bottom thereof, a motordriven fan for circulating air through said casing, a vertical tube driven by said motor and depending into the water in said receptacle, said tube having means for elevating the water therein during its rotation, and

I and a drain tube d'ependin from said trough, and means for axially a justing said ring.

6. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet 0 enings and adapted to have a predetermined depth of water at the bottom thereof, a motordriven fan for circulating air through said casing, a vertical tube driven by said motor and depending into the water in said receptacle, said tube having ineans for elevat ing the water therein during its rotation, and discharge ports adjacent its upper end, an atomizi member carried by said tube adjacent said ports, and adapted to discharge the atomized water radially from said tube, and a ring surrounding said atomizing member and having its upper edge oblique to the v axis of said tube and a trough at its lower edge, drain tubes depending from said trough to the water level in said rece tacle, and means for supporting said ring For vertical adjustment relative to said atomizing memr. 7. An air conditioning device comprising a receptacle having air inlet and outlet 0 nings, and adapted to have a predetermined depthpf water at the bottom thereof, a motor,

an driven by said motor forcirculating the air through said receptacle, vertical impeller tube driven by said motor and having; its lower end depending into the water insaid receptacle, and ports adjacent its upper end, an atomizing member mounted on said tube adjacent said ports, and an adjustable member. for intercepting varying 5 amounts of atomized water discharged from said atomizin member.

Signed at hicago, 111., this 30th day of January, 1929. m BERNARD OFFEN. 

